Cutter chain



Dec. 2s, 1944. L E. SIMMONS 2,365,975

CUTTER CHAIN 4 Filed June 12, 1944 ffy Patented Dec. 26, 1944 Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 12, 1944, seria1No.539,so6 9 claims. gol.' 26a-33) This invention` relates to cutter chains and more particularly to an improved hinge pin lock and bit stop for a mining machine cutter chain.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutter chain. Another object is to provide an improved hinge pin connection between the chain blocks and connecting links of a cutter chain whereby wear is concentrated on the relatively inexpensive connecting links. Yet another object is to provide an improved cutter chain having an improved combined hinge pin lock and bit stop. A further object-is to provide an improved hinge pin lock forholding the hinge pin against rotation with respect to the chain block. Stillanother object is to provide an improved bit stop for the cutter bit received in the socket of the chain block. A Afurther object is to provide an improved bit stop which is formed integral with a hinge pin lock. Other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

j In this drawing: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a section of a. cutter chain in which an illustrative form of the invention is incorporated.

` Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially4 on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the block lug and cutter bit in front elevation.

Fig. 3` is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in substantial horizontal section taken on the lines 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isa detail cross sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is. an enlarged detail view of a combined pin lock and bit stop.

Fig. 7 is an enlargedperspective view of of the hinge pins. v I

`In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown a mining machine cutter chain including a chain block I pivotally con-` nected at 2 to connecting links 3. The chain One block has a lateral lug 4 provided with a socket 5 for the insertion' of a standard shanked cutter bit 6. The cutter bit is secured in cutting po. sition in the block socket by a set screw 'I threaded Within an opening 8 in the block lug. The

vided with lateral gibs I0 adapted for reception y in the guideway of a conventional mining machain block has parallel side portions 9, 9 problock; and, provided between the adjacent ends ofI the linkswithin the block, is a sprocket tooth receiving space II. The bit receiving socket 5 enters at itslbottom the tooth-space II between thelink-ends and, if no stop were provided, the bit shank would be free to drop down too far into the tooth-space II and so to interfere with proper, engagement 'of the sprocket tooth with the links. have lateral apertures I2 communicating with the tooth-space I I to permit the discharge of dirt or cuttings from the tooth-space. The cutter chain structure above described is conventional and well known to those skilled in the art.

The pivotal connections 2 between the blocks and links `include hinge pins I3 arranged in alined transverse bores I4 and I5 in the blocks and links respectively. The ends .of the pins are substantially ush with the outer sides of the block portions 9, as shown in Fig. 2, and the pins have longitudinal openings or bores I6 extendingv centrally therethrough. Notches or grooves Il inthe ends ofthe pins enter the central bores I6 and extend laterally through a side of the pins into registry with slots or grooves I8 in the side portions 9 of the block. The grooves I8 enter the block apertures l2, and are relatively upwardly inclined in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1. The combined pin locks and bit stops are each generally designated I9 and may be formed in Various manners and herein consist of a piece of deformable metal preferably in the form oi Wire bendable into the desired shape. Prior to bending into operative pin locking po- 'sition on the block, the lock and stop is of generally U-shape, as shown in Fig. 6, with one leg ,2B of the U somewhat longer than the other leg 2l. The lock and stop is placed in position on the block by inserting the shorter leg 2l in the central bore i6 the pin and inserting the ,longer leg 20 through the block aperture I2 across the block above the tooth-space Il, and therel after the longer leg is bent laterally into the V`position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 in par- :allelisin with the base 22 of the U. When the ends of the 1egs20 are bent properly into place,

:as `shown in Fig. 4, they are disposed in the registering grooves I8 and 'Il inthe block and pin with the base 22 of each U disposed in the grooves @wand Il atthe other side of `the block so that the hinge pins I3 are rigidly locked against rotation with respect to the block. .And the U- portions which extend through the block apertures I2 and traverse the block just above the tooth-space Il and beneath the bit-receiving The side portions 9 of the chain block socket 5, provide stops for the shank of the cutter bit 6 to prevent the insertion of the bit shank into the tooth-space Il. The hinge pins may be readily disassembled simply by bending the longer legs 20 of the U into the full line position shown in Fig. 6 with the U-le'gs 20 and 2| in parallel relation, so that the U-shaped members may be withdrawn laterally from the block, and, in this same manner, the U-shaped members may be readily replaced. The bit stop portions of the U-members, passing through the lateral apertures i2 of the block, do not obstruct the openings suiciently to prevent the free discharge of dirt and cuttings from the tooth-space As a result of this invention, an improved cutter chain is provided wherein common elements serve to lock the hinge pins to the block and to provide a stop for the cutter bit in the block socket. By the provision of the improved combined pin lock and bit stop, a relatively simple and inexpensive structure results. The improved pin lock and bit stop may be readily placed in position and may be incorporated in a chain block of a standard design with a minimum of change. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may asisume in practice, it will be understood that this forni of the same is shown for purposes of illus tration and that the invention may be modied and embodied in various other forms rwithout dee parting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a connect-v ing link, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said block and link, said block having a socket for receiving a cutter bit, and detachable means for locking said hinge element against rotation relative to said block and including a portion extending beneath the block socket -to provide a bit stop.

2. In a cutter chain, a'chain block, a connecting link, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said block and link, said block having 'a vSocket for receiving a cutter bit, and a `detachable member engaging said hinge element and block for locking said hinge element against rotation rela*- tive to said block, said member having a 'portion extending into a position with respect to the block socket to provide a stop lfor a bit in said socket. y

3. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a connect'- ing link, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said link to said block, said block having a socket for receiving a cutter bit, and ,a combined lock and stop means for locking said hinge element against rotation relative to said block and `for providing a stop for a bit in said block socket;

4. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bit-receiving socket, connecting links pivotally connected to said block, the vpivotal connections between the links and said block including' hinge pins, and a combined pin lock and bit stop means for locking said pins against rotation relative to said block and including portions extending across the block between adjacent linkends and beneath said bit-receiving socket to provide a bit stop.

5. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bitreceiving socket, connecting links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said block, the inner adjacent ends of said links being spaced apart to provide a space within the block beneath said bit-receiving socket and the pivotal connections between the links and said block including hinge elements, and means associated with each of said hinge elements for locking the latter against rotation relative to said block, said lockin-g means having portions traversing the block in said block space beneath said bit-receiving socket to provide a stop for a bit in said socket.

6. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bitreceiving socket, connecting links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said block, the inner adjacent ends of said links being spaced apart to provide a space in said block beneath said bit-receiving socket, said block having lateral openings connecting the block space with the exterior of the block and the pivotal connections between the links and said block including hinge elements, and locking means for each of said hinge elements for locking the latter against rotation relative to said block, said locking means having portions extending across the block through said openings and across said block space beneath the bit-receiving socket to provide a stop for a bit in said socket.

'7. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a sprocket-toothreceiving space provided at the bottom portion thereof, and a bit-receiving socket entering said space at its inner end, a connecting link, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said link to said block, and means engaging said hinge element and block for locking said element against rotation relative to said block, said locking means having a portion traversing the block above the sprocket-tooth-receiving space and beneath said bitereceiving socket to provide a stop for a bit in said socket.

8. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bitreceiving socket, a connectingliink, a hinge pin for pivotally connecting said link and said block, said hinge pin having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and a member extending through said hinge pin bore and engaging said block for locking said hinge pin against rotation relative to said block, said member having a portion traversing said block beneath the blocksocket to provide a stop for a bit in said socket.

9. In a cutter chain, a chain block havinga bitreceiving socket, a connecting link, a hinge pin for pivotally connecting said block and said link, said hinge pin having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and said block having an opening extending thereacross beneath said bit receiving socket, said hinge pin and said block having registering grooves,. and a combined pin lock and bit stop comprising a member having a portion extending into said pin bore and another portion seated in said registering grooves, said member having another portion extending across the block through the block opening beneath said bit-receiving socket to provide a stop for a bit in said socket. l

LEON E. SIMMONS. 

